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Choctaw Chief 373

Turkey Track Bar

Well-known member
Northern Rancher's talk about "373" got Lazy Ace and I visiting about the legend. There is a sub-chapter in the "Chiga" chapter of "The History of Red Angus" about "373". Below is the sub chapter, and the picture (I scanned it, so it might not be the clearest, sorry) included within. He was quite the bull. For that matter, his breeder, or perhaps more correctly stated, master breeder, George Chiga is quite the man, with both Canadian and American history.



Choctaw Chief 373

choctawchief1.jpg


"This no-excuses linebreeding approach is how the Chigas ended up producing Choctaw Chief 373, one of the most prepotent bulls of the breed. Many would call him the most prepotent of any breed. His sire was a son of Superchief out of the famous "2" cow and his dam was the daughter of Kansas Chief. According to Garold Parks, who purchased him and 40 heifer mates in 1967 to start the Pioneer Red Angus herd, "Choctaw Chief 373 was intentionally bred to 20 of his daughters for the purpose of identifying any deleterious genes. He came through with 100% flying colors, plus the added bonus that his inbred progeny performed in a superior manner for all production traits without the usual degree of inbreeding depression."

"Although born in 1965, before widespread use of A.I. was common in the beef industry, 373 ranks in the top 15 sires of all times in the number of progeny registered. In addition, many of his sons have also made a positive contribution to the breed. Several years ago, Colorado State University did a study to objectively determine which were the most influential bulls in the Red Angus breed. They did this by quantifying the genetic contribution of all sires to the genetics of the 1996 Red Angus calf crop. Although born in 1965, Choctaw Chief 373's direct coefficient of relationship to the 1996 calf crop was 9.38 percent. That means for the average animal born in 1996, 9.38 percent of its genes were from Choctaw Chief 373; an amazingly high number in any breed."

"Garold Parks noted, "Greatness has been claimed by many, but few achieve it. The term GREAT is overused and truly abused when applied to many sires. When applied to a truly great one, Choctaw Chief 373, it is almost an understatement."

As a side note, in the current (Oct. 2006) issue of the American Red Angus Magazine, there is an ad selling "373" and other rare semen. The "373" semen is listed as selling for $80 per unit. If you're interested contact Wright Farms, New London, IA, 319-367-2512. The ad states this and the other advertised semen was quality checked in July 2006.

Cheers--

TTB :wink:
 

Turkey Track Bar

Well-known member
Red Robin said:
TTB what size bull was he? Do you know his frame score and weight?

RR:

I don't know what his frame was, Lazy Ace guessed around a 6 frame. According to his EPD's

http://old.redangus.org/cgi-bin/extped.4ge?13072

his yearling weight was 1120 pounds. Seems like that was pretty big for 1966, but I very well could be wrong.

Maybe someone else will be more "in the know" regarding his frame score.

Cheers---

TTB
 

Red Robin

Well-known member
I am sure a fan of linebreeding. You can get rid of alot of sorry traits (or get stuck with them depending on how good of job you do.) As you breed genetic information out of their genes you create a more consistant end product.

Looking at 373 in this picture he doesn't show near enough expansion through the last half of his body. Realizing this was the 60's though they might have wanted him to appear taller or longer and held him off feed or took the photo of him coming out of cows. Have you or LA seen many direct calves from him? How were they for spring of rib, flank, and quarter?
Lastly , how are the females udders? Do they have much tilt? How is teat size?
 

Northern Rancher

Well-known member
Just checked my archives lol-he weighed 2340 pounds on 9/15/1972 as a 7 year old. I'd guess he'd be a frame 6 at the very most-all I know is alot of good cattle trace backl to him.
 

AX-

Well-known member
I saw two animals sire by him in about 2001. They were at Prairie View Farms in Gill, CO. I saw them as calves and also at his dispersal sale. The one that I remember the best was a young cow, but she did not breed back and was open. She was a pretty plain looking cow. I thought about buying here on pedigree alone, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. Leroy bought about 10 ampules of 373 and only got the two calves.

I thought the price of the semen in the ad was extremely cheap. I would have guessed it could be worth much more than that, but I don't know anything about ampules.

Does anyone know much about L303 or the other old bull? Seems as you see L303 talked about highly.
 

AX-

Well-known member
Red Robin - I just looked at the old dispersal catalog and she sold for $1,050 open in 2002 to Harbin Farms of TX. PVRA Choctaw Jessi - I can't place her real well, but had her marked as a minus (So I didn't like something about her). Sorry that I can't remember too well.
 

Red Robin

Well-known member
AX- said:
Red Robin - I just looked at the old dispersal catalog and she sold for $1,050 open in 2002 to Harbin Farms of TX. PVRA Choctaw Jessi - I can't place her real well, but had her marked as a minus (So I didn't like something about her). Sorry that I can't remember too well.
Thanks AX. You're doing better than me. I seem to remember seeing one sell and thinking the calf wasn't a very positive note for the old bull. Not sure though where I saw it or even if I did. Old age as haymaker pointed out has it's downfall. Oh well. I make it up with my good looks. :wink:
 
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